taking a closer look at Advent

Wow...it has been a little while.  As much as I love Christmas it always seems to be such a busy time of year with all the hustle and bustle of going here, going there, making cookies, visiting family, and the list goes on as we didn't even mention cleaning the house, or doing our everyday jobs. With that being said, let's get a little encouragement...

As you know, we are in the season of Advent in the church year. I would like to take a little time and reflect on what that means. The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival". Our whole focus at this time of the church year is the anticipated 1st coming of Christ as a little baby. But it is more than that also.

Advent is marked by a spirit of expectation, anticipation, preparation, and longing. There is a yearning for deliverance from the evils of this world, first expressed by Israelite slaves in Egypt as they cried out from their bitter oppression. It is the cry of those who have experienced the tyranny of injustice in a world under the curse of sin, yet who have hope of deliverance by a God who has heard the cries of oppressed slaves and brought deliverance!

It is that hope, however faint at times, that God, however distant He sometimes seems, will bring to the world the anticipation of a King who will rule with truth, justice, and righteousness over His people and His creation. It is in that hope  with the once anticipated, and now we anticipate anew, the reign of an Anointed One, a Messiah, who will bring peace and justice and righteousness to the world.

eggs, potatoes, and coffee

This world is a fallen world. There is sin in the world and bad things happen to good people and there really is no explanation for it most of the time other than this...SIN. With this being said unfortunately, at one point in time, something bad will happen to you or your loved ones, the question to ask isn't why did this happen, the question to ask is what am I going to do about it. The way I see it, we can react in one of three ways, we can be an egg, a potato, or coffee. Let me take a minute and explain:

The egg:
when you take an egg out of the refrigerator, it is a very fragile item. It has a little bit of a shell to help protect the liquid interior but that shell cracks easily and once cracked it doesn't take long for the whole shell to fall apart and break and your left with a big mess.

A Potato:
A strong sturdy item. Hard and not very giving in shape when dropped. It remains the same. It is unrelenting.

Coffee: Coffee beans smell wonderful. May even make someone smile just by the scent of them. Kind of bitter if you try to eat them by themselves.

I know I know...your thinking you have not given very good analogies. Let me finish. What happens to that said egg, potato, and coffee when introduced to hot boiling water for about 20 minutes?

The egg still has that hard outer shell. It has become a hard boiled egg with not only a somewhat protective outer shell but it has become hardened now on the inside. I have known several people who when bad things happen, they become even more angry at the world and become hard toward their surroundings.

The potato goes in and it is strong and hard but when faced with the same adversity, 20 minutes of boiling water, it becomes soft and mushy. I have known several people who go in and act like they are kings or queens of the world and nothing will bring them down. however when faced with adversity, they become soft and mushy just like the potato.

The coffee goes in and is very unique. When faced with the boiling water, they changed it into something completely different. I have known a few people like this but not as many. They are people who will take the bad thing that happens and make the best of their circumstances. Is it what they would have chosen? More than likely not but they take what they have and make the best of the situation.

So now my question is...Which one are you?

You Break It, You Buy It

When I was little, mom would tell me at least 1,249 times not to touch anything in the store and that was just before we got into the store. She would tell me another 547 times while in the store not to “touch the pretties” and “keep your hands to yourself” because all of these things are “breakable.” If you break something you must buy it. For whatever reason unknown to my mom I did not want to stay by her side, nor did I want to stay in her sight and even more so, I did not want to refrain from touching the pretties! At one point as I was wondering away looking at all the pretties, I saw the most beautiful crystal angel and I picked her up and held her in my hand. I wanted to find my mom and show her just how beautiful this angel was and maybe even beg her to buy it. As I found mom and was walking up to her with this prized possession, I am sure my mom's mommy brain immediately was thinking, must retrieve the angel. breakable. must retrieve the angel. In her feeble attempt to retrieve the angel from me I interpreted this as “play time!” Crystal angels don’t bounce. I found out crystal angels, when thrown onto the floor, just break. Now, if mom were a cartoon character her face would have turned bright red (I think it actually did) and steam would have come blowing out of her ears. As I watched my very upset mom “You break it, you buy it,” was all I could hear in my head, over and over again. In embarrassment and anger mom collected the pieces of the angel (and her pride) and approached the cash register. She purchased broken pieces of glass. She paid valuable money for something that immediately lost its value the moment it fell to the floor. I in turn, true to her word had to pay her back with my allowance money. I learned a valuable lesson that day as to a six yr. old child, crystal angels take a lot of allowance money.

Take a look around you. Do you see something broken? I see brokenness everywhere. I see it in disease and sickness. I see it in the hate and the hurting. I see it in the relationship between family members and friends. I see it in the churches. I see it in the children I teach, and then, I see it in me. Everything is broken. Everything is tainted. Just as the angel fell and broke, we too are fallen and broken beings. Our world is a fallen and broken world. Lacking value and ability in ourselves we lie helpless on the ground. The old mantra, “you break it, you buy it” won’t solve this problem. Adam couldn’t “buy” his way out of brokenness. Even faithful and righteous Abraham couldn’t buy his way out of brokenness. David was a man after God’s own heart and yet he too lacked and could not pay the price. So what are we to do? We have no currency that will pay the price for the brokenness that man has incurred on all of creation. You see, we are the broken pieces lying on the ground and we can do nothing. However, Christ has come along and picked us up in our broken state. He carried our brokenness on his back as he carried the cross to Calvary. His blood that poured from his body is the only currency that can buy our broken selves.

I still have that broken angel. It’s not on display, but every now and then when I’m cleaning off a shelf or cleaning out a closet I come across that angel and I remember that afternoon. I had intentions of gluing it back together, but I never got around to it and it wouldn’t look the same anyway. Not only does Christ gather and pay for the broken, he unlike me is fixing the broken and we will be completely restored when he comes back and we will live with him forever.  He didn’t break it, but he bought it. He bought it because we couldn’t.

 

Psalm 13

Psalm 13

Some days things just don’t go well. Some days it feels like everyone is picking on you and nothing is going right. Have you ever felt that way? On those days it can be hard to talk to God.
Take a look at what Psalm 13:1-2 says:

¹ How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
   How long will you hide your face from me?
² How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
   and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
   How long will my enemy triumph over me?

Did you know stuff like that was in the Bible? The writer of this psalm is pouring out his heart to God. He actually dares to question God. Have you ever felt that way? Maybe some days you wonder if God is around. Some days it might seem that God has forgotten you. Some days you wonder how long you’ll have to feel this way.
Now read what Psalm 13:3-4 says:

³ Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
   Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
⁴ and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
   and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

Wow! Again the writer is saying how bad his life is. His enemies are winning, and he is losing—and his enemies are happy that he’s losing!.
So things seem pretty bad. Where does the writer go from there? Read Psalm 13:5-6:

⁵ But I trust in your unfailing love;
   my heart rejoices in your salvation.
⁶ I will sing the Lord’s praise,
   for he has been good to me.

That’s quite a change from the beginning of the psalm. Even though the writer is feeling like God has forgotten him, he realizes that he still trusts God. Plus, he is going to sing praise to God because he realizes that God has been good to him. That’s pretty great. I wonder if we can do that too?

This is by far one of my favorite chapters in the bible that I have ever encountered and go back to it quite frequently. Life is not always easy. In fact, it  seems as though there are more bad days than good...especially true for me at this point and time. I look at my current situation or situations and can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. In the end, God is the one who is in control and I am just along for the ride. I have encountered many difficult situations in my life and have made it through them all because God is good...All the time and All the time...God is good.

I'm free

Parenting is a rough gig (so I've been told, however I am a teacher so I know how much work children can be.) Marriage is a rough gig. Friendship is a rough gig. This being human stuff is a rough gig. I am always messing up. I yell too much, praise too little, complain too much, affirm too little, forget too much, reach out too little, prideful too much and humble too little. Some days it feels like everything and everyone I'm in charge of gets messed up. I can't keep up. I'm so self absorbed I don't even know what the Jones's are doing, but I know I can't keep up with my own expectations and demands. I generally have good intentions, maybe even a moderately good plan, but then when it comes time to execute...disaster. Inevitable. My life is a waking disaster. I'm my own whirlwind with five little whirling dervishes buzzing circles (these are the dogs and cats...not kids yet!) around me. I am dizzy and I am tired. And the harder I try it seems the more impossible it becomes. And then I remember a promise. A promise of love and forgiveness. A promise of peace and hope and rest. And I calm. My anxieties slowly lessen. I don't measure up to this world's standards in any capacity of my life. I don't measure up to my own standards. And alone I certainly don't measure up to God's. But I don't have to. I'm free. I'm free because through baptism and Christ's death the Father sees Him and His perfection when he looks at me. Christ DOES measure up. He has met the standard. I am forgiven and renewed to continue in my earthly life with the promise of a worry-free, comparison-free, hassle-free, disappointment-free new life in eternity. So I continue on as a child of the King - Seeking to do his will and serve his ways, but resting in his grace

Rest in God's grace...

unplugged

23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 1 Corinthians 10:23 (NIV)

Let's take a moment to evaluate where or what gets most of our time. This is what my day/time is committed to. I clean the house, I work at the schools, I help and volunteer at the church working with the youth and singing in the choir, I take photos for people which then leads me to editing pictures, I walk the dogs and exercise, I am a loving wife to my husband. All of these things are good noble things and I am sure there are many of you that can add to your list that you are not only a wife but a mother which leads to a whole other slew of items that vie for your time. There are times in my week when I leave the house at 7:30 in the morning and don't come home until 8:00 or later at night between working and all the other commitments I have. I'm not complaining I'm just stating a fact. And even though a large portion of my day (usually) is spent with someone (usually kids) I feel disconnected. I feel like I don't know what is going on. See in addition to the "job titles" I mentioned, I am also a friend but with everything else going on I don't get stop in and say hi or connect with them. That is where technology comes in. I have facebook, instagram and pintrest just to name a few things. I can see what my friends who I knew from college 6 yrs ago are doing just by logging into facebook. I can see the pictures of their kids and feel like I know what is going on in their lives. Most of these people I rarely talk to in person...but I know what they are doing. My phone is usually set on vibrate since I am in a school setting and as soon as it makes a noise I jump up and as soon as I'm able I check to make sure I have not missed anything "important."

I love technology. I have several electronic devices including ones that are barely even touched due to the fact that I am busy doing something "important."  I must confess something...did you notice that in all the tasks I "have to do", there was one major one missing...spending time alone with God?

I know that this is an important thing to do and I have the best of intentions...after all, it is the thought that counts right? I say things like I know God I'll get to my quiet time after I have done the other 500 things on my to do list. I have to admit that even sometimes my quiet time alone with God consists of reading a quick devotion on line. Sometimes I even let my daily bible verse that pops up on my phone "count" as spending time in the word. I mean after all, sometimes that is all I have time for.

I just came back from a women's retreat. It was a great time to get away. We could have our phones and most people (myself included) had them. I must admit (proudly) that Sat. I hardly looked at my phone. I did call my husband at night to tell him I loved him and to remind him to feed the fish, and set back the clocks but really that was it. I was actually getting a little upset when I would hear peoples phones go off or make some sort of noise. Here we are at a retreat, a time to get away, at a beautiful location and people keep looking at their phones? But I must admit Sunday I was not so good. I had my phone on silent so as to not disturb others, however I texted with someone regarding taking senior pictures.

I love to watch T.V. and there was no T.V at the retreat.  I also love playing games on my ipad and while I could have brought my Ipad, I didn't, several people did, but I was not one of them. I left for the retreat Sat. morning and came back Sunday late afternoon, the retreat was done at 1 but I had scheduled pictures shortly after the event.  I just couldn't stay away from being busy. In my defense I had rested for a day and a half. I got home and realized other than my dogs, cats, and husband (not necessarily in that order), what I missed the most, was my rocking chair. I didn't miss the junk I "missed out on" by not watching my favorite t.v shows, the news or any other program, I didn't miss playing games on the ipad alone, and I didn't miss the need to jump every time MY phone made a noise. I was somewhat unplugged this weekend. Notice I said somewhat. I did have my phone.

Let's look back at the verse. It says 23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive." There is no harm in doing things that include technology. What you have to ask yourself is this, is what I am doing beneficial or constructive? 
Muslims stop what they are doing 5 times a day to pray to their god. in our society, we find this a bit odd but, we stop what we are doing at least 5 times a day to check email, facebook, or twitter. How is that any different? What if we took the times we checked our "connections" and connected to God? When I take a moment to stop and look at what controls or gets most of my time, it is obvious where my true devotion lies, and sadly that is not with God.  

I want to take one day a week (probably Sunday) and unplug from the social world. I want to not be on my phone, computer, or ipad. I want to dedicate the day to spending time in the word with God, praying and having real conversations with Him. I will probably use Sunday but you can use any day you want. Sunday is what will work best for me as I have to use technology in my jobs and I don't want to make legalistic rules for my quiet time. I will let family and friends know that I will not be able to be reached during this time and why. I will not schedule commitments such as scentsy parties or photos. I want the majority of the day to be dedicated to diving into God's word. 

what's in a word

⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

I heard this verse the other day and there is one word that stuck out to me...sufficient. If you look up the word sufficient it means enough or adequate. This verse is about Gods grace not about there being a sufficient amount of food at the holiday table or a sufficient amount of money to cover this months bills, we are talking about grace...

The second part talks about boasting in our weaknesses so that Christ's power can rest on us, and not only boasting but being glad about it. When we take the good with the bad and are still able to point to Christ, we are giving him the glory.

God's grace is sufficient for us. We don't have to do anything to earn it, in all actuality we don't deserve it at all. It is a free gift from God, but it is all we need.

confessions of a middle school substitute teacher

I love kids.  It has always been my dream to be a teacher.  I've always thought I would be an elementary teacher. while this is still my dream, I have come to appreciate the awkwardness of a middle schooler.

Middle School is an odd age. They're not little kids anymore but they're not  mature either. They go into middle school children and three years later leave as young adults. They are trying (usually unsussessfully) to find themselves and their niche in the world. They think they know it all. I mean after all, they have gone through elementary school. This is all before we get to the hormonal changes that are going in in their pre adolescent bodies. Aww the wonders of junior high.

Let me tell you a few things I have observed in my two yrs of subbing.

1. They have a new best friend every day. There is so much drama especially among the girls. One day they hate each other and are never ever going to talk to one another again, the next day they're sitting together eating lunch at the same table.

2. They have a hard time remembering things like to put their name on their paper even though that was drilled into them in elementary school. They convinently forget their homework at home since they wore out "the dog ate my homework excuse." This does not mean their not learning.

3. They love technology and given a chance they can show you just how much they have learned given a chance. It can be iPads, phones, smart boards or any other form of technology. They just "get it" in ways adults may not.

4. They are active learners. In the elementary level we keep the kids busy going from one activity to another. The same technique can be used for middle schoolers as well. They have to talk things out I order to learn. If they are talking it out, they are "teaching" their peers while their peers are hearing it from someone rather than their teacher and maybe in a different point of view.

I'm sure there is more I could add and please feel free to add more in the comments however for now, I'm going to sign off. Just remember that this too shall pass.

<>< nicole ><>

In the world not of the world

 We are in this world but we are not of this world. Let me explain...

As believers, we are physically present in the world but not of it. We were bought with a price. The price of Jesus' blood. Because of that, we have the privilege of  being set apart. This is the very meaning of being holy--to be set apart. We are to conform our selves and our minds to be as much like Christ as possible.  Romans 12:2 says "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

We are to live in such a way that those who do not yet know Christ see Christ in us through our words, actions, and the way we live. There is suppose to be something "different" about us. We are in the world. This is a fact. We are to enjoy the little things in life. Stop and smell the roses once in awhile. Do something that you enjoy but do not be conformed by the world and what it says is valuable. The world says that we need the next technological gadget, we need the newest up to date cell phone, or that we have to have ___________ because everyone else is getting one. These things are just that...things, stuff that will break, wear down, or become yesterdays news. We are in this for the long haul....eventually, we will have a crown that will never tarnish and will be just as beautiful 1000 years after receive as it was the day we got it. We will live in a perfect place where we don't have to be different. We will be in Heaven. Until that day, we are to live in such a way that Christ is the center and we point the way back to him for others. Pleasure is no longer calling in this life, living a life that points to Christ is.